N/A
Completed N=94
Aromatherapy for Management of Pain, Anxiety, and Nausea in the Acute Care Setting
Effectiveness of Aromatherapy
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06400979 ↗
Enrolled (actual)
94
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
Apr 2025
Primary outcomePrimary: Numerical Rating Pain Scale — 5.7; 5.3; -1 score on a scale — p=0.008
Summary
The purpose of this interventional study is to investigate the effects of aromatherapy on an acute care unit and whether it is effective in decreasing physical or emotional stressors that occur as a hospitalized patient. This study aimed to expand the limited literature on aromatherapy use in hospitalized adults and its effectiveness in decreasing pain, anxiety, and nausea. The hypothesis was that use of aromatherapy would decrease pain, anxiety and nausea in hospitalized adults and increase patient satisfaction. While there is anecdotal evidence of its efficacy, few studies exist evaluating its effectiveness within peer-reviewed journals, specifically on acute care medical surgical units.
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Numerical Rating Pain Scale |
5.7; 5.3; -1 | 0.008 sig |
| PRIMARY Nausea Scale |
1.5; 1.2 | 0.13 |
| PRIMARY Anxiety Likert Scale |
2.6; 1.8 | <0.0001 sig |
| SECONDARY Patient Satisfaction |
47; 17; 30 | 0.02 sig |
| SECONDARY Well-being |
50; 19; 25 | 0.02 sig |
| SECONDARY Increased Sleep |
55; 10; 29 | 0.02 sig |
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Age 18 years or older,
- Admission to Tower 4 for an anticipated inpatient stay >24 hours,
- Alert and oriented,
- Capable of using a visual scale to self-report symptoms,
- Naïve to the use of aromatherapy for the use of decreasing pain, anxiety and/or nausea to participate,
- Not on a pediatric service.
Exclusion Criteria
- Cognitively impaired,
- Post-op from an otolaryngologic surgery (another study was being conducted concurrently with this patient population and we did not want to interfere with those results),
- Known impaired olfactory function (limited or no sense of smell),
- On any psychiatric holds (e.g., 5150's),
- Known allergies to essential oils,
- Sensitive or allergic to plants (specifically to lavender plants, orange blossoms, sandalwood trees, or peppermint leaves) as essential oils are natural aromas derived from plants,
- Active participant of another Research Protocol,
- Admitted as a "short stay" or on "observation" status,
- Have a known history of Atrial Fibrillation. The use of peppermint has known effects on stimulating atrial fibrillation,
- Is a prisoner,
- Known pregnancy, or
- Expected to be transferred out of Tower 4 and/or discharged from the hospital within twenty-four hours.
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06400979). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication. Informational only — not medical advice.